Vertical washer and dryer



April 9, 1968 M. KAHN VERTICAL Wl XSHER AND DRYER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 25, 1966 FIG?) llllllHlllllllllllli'i INVENTOR (0 /V. KAfi/V M A RNEY April 9, 1968 M. KAHN 3,376,718

VERTICAL WASHER AND DRYER Filed Nov. 25. 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet I FIG.6

INVENTOR. LEO M. KAH/V O RN EY United States Patent Gflhce 3,376,718 Patented Apr. 9, 1968 3,376,718 VERTICAL WASHER AND DRYER Leo M. Kahn, 536 79th St., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11209 Filed Nov. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 597,129 Claims. (Cl. 68-4) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention is concerned with a washer and dryer having a plurality of separate casings for holding small loads of wash. Each casing is attached to the center agitator post of the washing machine. Delicate fabrics are placed in the casing and washed separately. A plurality of holes is provided in the casing in order to permit the circulation of water for washing and air for drying of the clothes therein.

This invention relates to a new vertical washer-dryer. More specifically, the invention teaches a washer-dryer having a plurality of separate casings for containing small loads of wash, particularly recently developed synthetic fabrics, such as polyesters.

It has long been recognized that delicate fabrics must be washed separately from larger or more rugged materials so that they are not subject to excessive wear and tear caused by the rubbing action during the conventional Washing cycle. The large loads used in household washing machines, up to 14 pounds, are not suitable for Washing these delicate fabrics. Unfortunately, however, Washing delicate fabrics by themselves is impractical, since their accumulation is not suflicient to make up an entire load which can be washed more gently. The alternative of running the machine with just a pound or two of delicate fabrics is time consuming and expensive.

In accordance with the prior art this disadvantage of washing small loads was overcome by employing a small basket which fits atop of the central shaft of the vertical washing machine. When using the small basket, however, the rest of the machine cannot be used, thereby requiring separate Washing cycles for the conventional laundry, and the use of the machine with an unduly small load. Another disadvantage of using a small diameter central basket mounted on the agitation post is that the washing action is slower and the centrifugal force developed during extraction is proportionally minimized and the extracted load retains a large amount of Water. This necessitates longer drying times, an obvious disadvantage.

A still further diific'ulty in laundering synthetic fabrics is their drying. Normally, it is inadvisable to place these in the dryer along with the regular Wash because of the excessively high temperatures and long operating cycle employed for cottons, Woolens, etc. Delicate fabrics are most advantageously dried at low temperatures with a large volume of air. While, of course, these few articles may be tumbled on an ai fluff control provided by the normal rotary drier, this again results in .the use of a large capacity machine with only a small amount of materials.

In accordance with this invention, it has been discovered that small loads of synthetic fabrics can be washed along with the other laundry and dried independently in a conventional vertical washing machine. Basically, the delicate articles are enclosed in a casing, or enclosed basket, hereinafter described, which is afiixed to the agitator of the vertical washing machine.

FIG. 1 illustrates a vertical section of the washerdryer of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top sectional view of the washerdryer employing three casings.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the retraction means attached to the flexible member.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-section of the retraction means.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of the location of the casings where four are employed.

FIG. 6 illustrates a vertical section of the washer-dryer of the invention wherein the casing is connected to the lower portion of the agitator by rigid linking means.

The casing or enclosed basket is composed of a semirigid perforated material having an opening therein for inserting the clothing. The casing must be sufliciently rigid so as not to collapse about the clothing, yet not so rigid as to damage the machine during operation. A hard rubber or plastic like material is uniquely suitable. Perforations are generally about Mr inch in diameter and are distributed along the surface of the casing. These holes serve to permit water to enter and leave the casing during the washing and extraction period and to permit circulation of air through the clothing during the drying cycle.

The casing must be filled loosely, say to about one-half of its volume, so that it can open and close to circulate the water or air land to permit the clothing therein to move freely about during the washing and drying step.

Any suitable seal may be used to close the opening in the casing. A zipper or plurality of snap fasteners are examples, but any other means known to those skilled in the art may be employed.

The casing is attached to the center post by means of a flexible member. This member serves to limit the movement of the casing with respect to the washing cylinder.

This limitation on movement is necessary so that the plurality of casings do not accumulate in one section of the machine and remain evenly divided so as not to cause an imbalance during extraction. As will be readily ap-' parent, where two casings are used they should be placed opposite each other, three casings are each aflixed apart, etc. While broadly the casing is attached at only one end, it may be aflixed at the other end also by means of a second flexible member which is attached to the outer wall or bottom of the cylinder, to give a better snap action.

As a preferred embodiment of the invention, the flexible membe may be retractable. The particular retraction means depends on the material from which the flexible member is made. Where the member is cord-like a spring loaded cord winder, such as are well known in the art, may be used. Where a more rigid flexible member is employed, a telescoping means is a convenient method of retraction. The retractable means serve to facilitate locating the casing with respect to the conventional laundry placed in the machine. If the amount of laundry other than delicates is little, the retractable member is expanded almost to the bottom of the Washing cylinder. On the other hand, if a full load is employed, the retractable member is expanded only sufficiently for the casing to' reach to the outer surface of the top of the load. It should be understood that it is not necessary to place the conventional laundry load in the machine first. It is possible to expand the retractable member so that the casing is located in the bottom corner of the washing machine and place the conventional load upon it. Thus locating the casing results in better agitation because of the increased reciprocal motion. Obviously, the positioning of the casing with respect to the conventional wash is dependent on the sequence in which the machine is loaded.

As stated previously, the flexible member is adjoined at one end to the center agitator post. Preferably, it is affixed to the top of the post, however, other locations may suitably be employed. If the flexible member is affixed to the lower part of the agitato post it can be constructed of one or more rigid links. These links may be made of metal or other hard substance which will imp-art a snapping action to the casing during the agitation action. In this embodiment, each of the casings would be separately linked about the agitator post for balancing reasons, as previously described. In this case the flexible member is not retractable.

The operation of the washing machine, until the end of the final extraction cycle, that is, until the machine comes to rest, is conventional. When the machine stops the bulk of the laundry is removed. Thereafter, the drying of the enclosed delicate articles is commenced. Revolving at the conventional extracting speeds the casings are thrown outwardly to rest against the inner periphery of the washing cylinder or basket. This gives the optimum extraction since the centrifugal force at a point extreme from the agitator post is the greatest. This eliminates the bulk of the residual water from the clothing in the casing.

After the extraction is completed air is injected into the basket, with or without the addition of heat, and permitted to circulate through the clothing via the perforations in the casing when the clothes are damp dried, the air flow is continued and the machine shifted to the agitation motion. This agitation is the conventonal movement employed during the washing cycle. The oscillating motion during agitation causes the casing to bounce about the cylinder within the limitations of the flexible memher, the agitator blade and the sidewalls of the cylinder. This repeated bouncing action may be further enhanced by means of projections 21 along the surfaces of the basket. Bouncing of the casing is necessary in order to appropriately flutf 'dry the clothing. Additionally, bouncing flexes the casing surface and allows air to go in and out through the clothing. Proper fluff drying could not be achieved without this action since the clothing would remain plastered to the surface of the casing, thereby impeding the circulation and resulting in dried clothes having creases and wrinkles. It is important, particularly with the modern polyester type fabrics, that they not be permitted to dry while bunched up or settled. This continued agitation makes. it unnecessary to start or stop the drying at a specific time, that is, just after the drying is completed. If the agitation is continued past complete drying the fabric does not become subject to further wrinkles because the settling is avoided until the articles are removed.

Turning now to FIGURES 1 and 2 the washing-dryer is illustrated. The shell 1 contains the wash water and the laundry is supported in the basket 2 which is provided with an agitator post 3 having a plurality of fins 4. The agitator 3 is rotated by means of the shaft 8 and the cylinder 2 is rotated by means of the shaft 9. Both of these drive means are conventional and need not be described for illustrating the invention. The casings 5 are attached to the post 3 by means of the flexible members 6 and the housings 7. While it will be noted that only a single casing 5 is illustrated in FIGURE. 1, as more clearly shown in FIGURE 2, there are three casings employed. The casing 5 on FIGURE 1 shows the position of the casing during the washing cycle. During the extract period, particularly that extract period used after i the conventional laundry is removed, the casing is thrown outwardly against the outer surface of the cylinder 2. Its position is illustrated by the dotted line and the numeral 5a. Casing 5b illustrates the extracting position of the casing where the retractable means is extended out to a more distant point.

Drying in accordance with the invention, is enhanced by means of air flow through line 10. A valve is provided in this line (not shown) in order to regulate the air flow. In the embodiment illustrated, the air is drawn outwardly through the line 10 and enters the basket through a series of perforations 11 provided in the top of the heater 1 2 and then through a series of perforations 13 provided in the top cover of the washing machine 14. The ear flow through line 10, andthe operation of the heater 12, and the spin and agitation of the means of any known automatic mechanism. Such automation will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Line 10 may be provided with a blower, or similar device, and, additionally vanes may be provided on the basket to enhance air circulation during thehigh speed rotation.

FIGURE 3 illustrates in detail the retractable means used in conjunction with the flexible member. Within 15 which is spring the housing 7 is provided a cylinder be wound about actuated. The flexible member -6rrnay spool 16. The extension of the flexible member, once positioned by the operator, remains fixed during the washing and, thereafter, the drying by means of a conventional type lock mechanism. The several housings 7 are affixed to a plate 17 which has an opening adapted to rece ve the projection 19 atop the agitator post 3. This projection is keyed to the opening so that the position of the casings 5 is properly maintained with respect to the agitator blades. A spring loaded indent pin 20engages the opening 19 and locks the plate 17 in position. This fastening technique permits the plate and the attached casings to be easily removed when desired.

FIGURE 5 illustrates the relative position of the cas-.

ings when two or four casing are employed.

FIGURE 6 illustrates another embodiment of the instant invention. In this embodiment the casing 5 is attached to the bottom of the agitator 4 by means of rigid linking means 22. Thismodification is particularly useful in providing increased agitation of the clothing within the casing 5, since the rigid linking means serve to snap the casing back and forth in response to the reciprocal motion of the agitator 4 during the wash cycle.

Other modifications may be made as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the .art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a vertical top loading washing machine having a center post agitator having fins which comprises: a plurality of perforated resilient clothes holding casings, each having asealable opening adapted to receive cloth ing, and connecting members each attached at one. end to one of said casings and at the other end to said agitator, so as to limit the movement of said casing aboutsaid agitator.

2. The washing machine of claim 1 wherein said connecting members are flexible and attached equidistantly abouta plate adapted to fit upon said agitator.

3. The washing machine of claim 2 wherein said plate is removable from said agitator.

4. The washing machine of claim 1 wherein means what I claim and are provided to retract and extend said connecting mem said connecting members are attached individually to the lower portion of said agitator.

cylinder. are controlled by 6. The Washing machine of said claim 1 wherein said connecting member is resilient.

7. The washing machine of claim 1 wherein said connecting members are rigid linking means.

8. The washing machine of claim 1 wherein air flow means are provided to circulate air through the perfora tions of said casings after the damp drying operation.

9. The washing machine of claim 8 wherein a heater is provided for heating said air flow.

10. The washing machine of claim 1 wherein said casings move outwardly with respect to the agitator as the speed of rotation increases.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Lungstras 68209 X Large 68-27 X Spanel 68-27 X Massop 8159 X Ganim 684 X Bochan 68-19 X Jacobs 68-19 X WILLIAM I. PRICE, Primary Examiner. 

